The Qatari Boeing 747 that President Donald Trump received as a gift from Iran has no missile defense capability whatsoever, according to a report by The Zioneer. The claim raises questions about the security of the aircraft used as an interim Air Force One.
The Zioneer reports that the Qatari Boeing 747 used as interim Air Force One has no missile defense capability whatsoever. The claim, published Saturday evening, goes beyond a July 10 report that the plane lacked specific electronic warfare and heat-seeking missile countermeasures, asserting it is entirely defenseless against missile threats.
The July 10 report, based on Secret Service findings, revealed that the agency forced President Trump to switch from the aircraft for a trip to Turkey due to the missing systems. That followed a series of July 8 reports—first from Trump himself saying he was Iran's "number one" target, then from the New York Times citing a Secret Service security recommendation amid US-Iran escalation, and later from Israel Hayom's Ariel Kahana who called Trump's explanation "an obviously unreliable excuse." The thread shows corroboration from multiple news outlets converging on the same security concern.
The aircraft, a Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar, was formally inaugurated on July 1 and valued at $400 million. The Zioneer previously reported on the plane's luxury features and its role as an interim Air Force One. The current report, if accurate, would mean the aircraft is vulnerable during presidential travel, particularly in regions near Iran, against the backdrop of ongoing US-Iran tensions.
The report's claim has not been independently verified. The White House had previously denied safety concerns. It remains unclear whether the US will install defense systems on the plane or whether the aircraft will continue to be used for presidential travel.
10 developments
- StrongTrump inaugurates Qatar-gifted Boeing 747 as official aircraft: 'Couldn't get that from anyone else'
- StrongUS administration investigates journalists over leak that Qatari plane was not secure enough for Trump, HaRadar reports
- StrongTrump displays Qatar-gifted interim Air Force One in New York
- StrongThe Zioneer: Trump's reported F-35 pledge to Turkey should be met with skepticism
Source and signal
- Internal intake